Chaka Khan, celebrated her 60th birthday on March 23rd, with soirees in New York, Miami and Los Angeles. The legendary 10-time Grammy winner is embarking on her 40-year career, as well as expanding her entrepreneurial empire.

The Queen of Funk-Soul has been busy with releasing her single, It’s not Over and being honored at last month BET Honors. She also is selling a unisex fragrance, “iKhan Project”, her Khana Sutra line, a collection of scented candles and home fragrances; and “Chakalates”, her gourmet chocolates. Some of these items have been available in department store in the past, but recently began selling them online specifically for charity. A percentage of the sales will go to the Chaka Khan Foundation, dedicated to assisting at risk women and children and victims of Katrina. Chaka is enthusiastic about giving money and now having the resources to help people. She is “Every Woman” !

Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, was born in Boston, on August 31, 1842. The St. Pierres’ were one of the leading families in Boston. Her mother was an English born white lady and her father was from the island of Martinique, and founder of the Boston Zion Church. They were able to send young Ms.St. Pierre to Salem, where the schools were integrated mainly from the work of John Lenox Remond (children denied admittance to school, helped desegregate).

Josephine graduated from Boston finishing school, and completed two more years of private tutoring in New York. She married George Lewis Ruffin, who was the first African American to graduate from Harvard Law School. Soon after they moved to England.

They were actively involved in the struggle of slavery, civil rights causes, charity work, recruiting soldiers for the Union Army and the women suffrage movement. Upon meeting Julia Howe and Lucy Stone (founder of New England Women’s Club) she established the Boston Kansas Relief Ass., they gave food and clothing to black people migrating to Kansas. She also organize the Women’s Era Club, for black women, with the help of her daughter, Florida Ruffin and a school principal, Maria Baldwin.

She served as editor and publisher of Women’s Era, the first newspaper published by and for African American women during 1890 to 1897, which was disbanded in 1903. She did everything for her newspaper, which highlighted the struggle for women’s rights over the country. She believed women had been ignored far too long. She thought women should’ve been fighting for the movement, and not staying at home. She wanted them to realize they were more than mothers, sisters, daughters, and wives, that they had talents beyond the home. Ruffin also wrote about the injustice of segregation. And thought laws that were racist and sexist should be broken.

She remained active after the paper, co-founding the League of Women for Community Service, along with other members from the Women Era Club. She was one of the charter members of the Boston-Chapter of the NAACP. She died on March 13, 1924, on the same day as her husband, just years later. Josephine was an amazing woman. She spoke for all women, despite whatever the circumstances she had to face. Still today we face some of these same issues that she and others fought against. We have plenty of outstanding women we can look up to and learn.

]]>https://lady228.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/josephine-st-pierre-ruffin-2/feed/0lady228PhotoGrid_1363535610840.jpgFreeman Sues for Freedomhttps://lady228.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/freeman-sues-for-freedom-2/
https://lady228.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/freeman-sues-for-freedom-2/#respondSun, 17 Mar 2013 12:48:29 +0000http://lady228.wordpress.com/?p=1131]]> Elizabeth Freeman, sometime in 1700’s, was born in slavery in New York. She was then sold to John Asley, whom she worked for at least 30 years. Listening to her master’s friends discuss the newly ratified Massachusetts Constitution, she concluded that if all people was born free and equal, so was she. Mrs. Freeman then found her a lawyer, Theodore Sedgwick, who supported the anti-slavery cause. He took her case, and convinced a jury in Berkshire County, to declare her free, on August 22, 1781.]]>https://lady228.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/freeman-sues-for-freedom-2/feed/0lady228imageSandyhttps://lady228.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/sandy/
https://lady228.wordpress.com/2012/10/31/sandy/#respondWed, 31 Oct 2012 01:38:47 +0000http://lady228.wordpress.com/?p=1050]]>

This super storm, devastation, complete disaster, has reeked havoc on the east coast. Killing at least 70 people, leaving homes and business without power, shutting Wall Street down, all while the rest of the country pray for the victims. Our President acted quickly. With only days away from the election, he stopped campaigning, and came to the aide of the country. Not being political, but a dad, a man, during his job, with compassion and grace. He is our Commander in Chief, our President, Barack Obama!

Currently the NHL is locked out because their CBA (collective bargaining agreement) expired. What if they seat out the season without an agreement? What if they can’t come together with the owners? What if the owners are waiting on the outcome of the election? What if there’s no collective bargaining agreement, or if Proposal 2 doesn’t pass?

The 2004/ 05 NHL season was canceled due to contract talks, which is not going well between the two parties. Games have been suspended through November, and its looking like a locked out season again.

It seems like hockey players and fans are suffering because the CBA expired, but this sport doesn’t bring in the revenue that football or basketball does. Yes, it is all about money, the media, endorsements and other sport entities. With hockey teams salaries at 71 million vs basketball’s 100 million, being an owner, you might wait until the outcome of the election, to see what’s beneficial for your pockets. Power and that old fashioned greed, is what it boils down to.

Busting up the unions is part of the whole grand scheme. If collective bargaining goes away, it eliminates a lot of problems for the bosses. No more pensions, health benefits, lifetime injuries, workman comp, and high salaries, just the deal they feel is appropriate. Take a close look people, this proposal means lifestyles will change.

Proposal 2 is not just about the public sector, its about the private sector also. This proposal will allow employees to continue to negotiate in good faith, their wages, health benefits, safe work conditions and many other issues pertaining to the workplace. Without a CBA in place, rather its private or public, you will not have these options. Starting with teachers, then moving to autoworkers and unions, they inevitably get to hockey, moving to all sports.

These men are liars. They don’t have your best interest at heart. They will tell you exactly what you want to hear, leaving you wanting more. And after its over, you will be the one that’s hurt and left empty inside. Its like bad blind drunken date, and the hangover after. Don’t fall for the Bullshhh …

Here’s some of the fairy tales we’ve been told:

1. Ryan said he completed a marathon in record time.

2. Mitt said he and his father walked with Martin Luther King Jr.

3. Mitt said he wants to help the grandparents, but he in fact wants vouchers for elderly people.

4. Mitt was caught on tape at a private fundraiser and stated he doesn’t have to worry about 47% of the American people.

5. Ryan recently showed up at a soup kitchen, unannounced and had pictures taken.

6. Mitt said to let Detroit go bankrupt, but now changes his sentiment.

That’s just a few. They’ve been accused of many more. These men flip-flop more the pancakes being turned over. They stick by whatever makes them look good at the time. Remember Mitt is only concerned with about 51% of you people that pay taxes. The other 2%, are his friends, of they don’t have to pay in taxes what you will pay. Don’t fall for the Okeydoke!

Collective Bargaining is important to everyone. Without Collective Bargaining, the state of Michigan will crumble. Which will cause a trickle down effect in this country. Please Vote Yes on Proposal 2, it will save jobs.

Pat Robertson weigh in on the debate. Pat believes that Obama had no right to defend his foreign policies. He thinks Obama should have allowed Mitt the floor and him to call him a liar. He believes that Barack should’ve understood it was a Debate and have some tough skin.

Wow, Pat. I have to say, I was offended with Mitt blaming the President, and trying seize the opportunity for political gain on the lives of 4 of our own. Yes Pat, that was offensive. Mitt attacked the President more than once and tried to call him a liar, when that’s all about him.

As I watched the 700 Club, (before I found the remote), I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t realize Pat, you and the rest of Romney/ and Ryan’s supporters think that lying is OK. “Its just a white lie, who will know. I said it, and the other 53% of American people are the only ones I have to worry about anyway.”